Funny. He never led the team in scoring, rebounding, or assists. He's one of few men who can pull off a bow tie. And he appears to be irreplaceable in this league. I've been searching through rosters for the next BB, and I'm sorry, but Tayshaun Prince/Shane Battier/Tony Allen/Metta World Peace he ain't.

So. He was greatness. But where do the Silver and Black turn? Danny Green? He doesn't appear to have that lock-down technique. James Anderson seems to NOT be the answer in a lot of ways. Kawhi Leonard? Becoming the best perimeter defender in SA, but really a different sort of player. Cory Joseph? Too early to call, but dyed-in-the-wool Longhorn fans know he isn't the answer. Gary Neal, Richard Jefferson, and Manu simply cannot provide what Bowen did: that tough, hard-nosed, never-back-down play combined with an understated, humble, self-controlled attitude resulting in a supreme confidence that won him many a battle over elite scorers in this league for years.

To me, acquiring a legitimate perimeter defender must be the Spurs off-season calling card. Whatever available international or domestic assets there are must be on the table, and a willingness to spend must be understood. This team won championships on defense and teamwork. Until these young, developing Spurs can hang their hat on those concepts, it's just a matter of when, not if, they are tripped up by a team that does. We love Green, Leonard, Splitter, etc...but let them be Old Spurs...and let them win.